Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

• We studied the importance of exposure to an elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) in the development of scarring retinopathy of prematurity (SROP) in a cohort of 92 neonates with chronic lung disease (≥14 days of respiratory therapy, ≥30 days of oxygen therapy, and ≥70 days in the hospital), 31 of whom had SROP. This cohort was chosen to avoid confounding prolonged respiratory failure with the presence of SROP and because such a cohort was expected to contain approximately 85% of all patients with SROP. Patients with SROP had a lower P_CO2 and spent more time on a respirator at higher respirator pressures during the first 70 days of life. In addition, infants with SROP had a lower mean arterial pressure and had a higher prevalence of seizures (97% vs 43%) and intraventricular hemorrhage (52% vs 26%). We conclude that an elevated P_CO2 is not associated with SROP in this group of critically ill premature neonates but that the presence of a seizure disorder or an intraventricular hemorrhage is strongly associated with SROP. (AJDC 1987;141:154-160)